The Osceola times., 1887-02-12
HIS "WALUNTINE."
How 1t Was Brought to the Old
Squire.

take nrr Ia the store with me. She has
been out very little this winter and |
guess il will be a treat for her."
III would" said Mr.. May, perhaps
next year Wen be able to give her
better birthday"
SO after breakfast Baby's hood was
tied on, and Mrs. May and the little
girl started for the store At the door
they found Ned, the grocer's son.
sweeping the pavement When he saw
them ne dropped his broom and ran in
crying. "Oh, Baby May! I've got some
thing for YOU
Ned flew behind the counter and lit
Tic Miss May followed as fast as her
short, fat legs would carry her After
rummaging in drawer for a few min
utcs he drew out a small white envel-
ope.
WHAT'S it, Ned?" asked Baby.
'lt's II valentine" said Ned, handing
il to her, his frecklod face beaming with
snilcs
whats waluntine?"
"a valentinee' Ned rubbed his head
US if rubbing would bring a definition
ont. "A valentine is a-those are vail
entincs,n he answered, finally. pointing
90 the opposite side of the store.
They're ugly" and Baby looked dis
appointed.
Those are comic Yours is pretty.
III take it out for you. Baby"
"Ah, She cried when Ned held it to-
ward her, "it's n pretty letter with
flowers on it, Here the small woman
put her hands behind her, leaned for
ward and smelt the printed roses.
''Smell the flowers, Ned"
"Scent.n said the wise boy. smelling.
"rake it, Baby. it's yours tokeep. This
is Valentines Day, every body gets
some kind of "A valentine to-day"
Mamma, have You waluntinep'
asked the little girl on their way home.
You are my valentine. Don't YOU
remember? You and ] were born on
st. Valentines Day, so we are both val
entines." and mamma and Baby
laughed.
'Bas gran'pa a waluntine, too?'
'l'm afraid not. Grandpa : flew away
n long while ago. May be that's what
makes him cross and the lady sighed.
1--WE must hurry now. little daughter,
or ] won't get down town in time to see
the doctor
When Baby MAY hcdrd that, she
clutched the white envelope tightly in
her hand and hurried along at her
mothers side. Mr.. May had been hurt
la In, Mi, nd u, hnl
been under the doctors hands. Young
rs the little girl was, she knew that it
was less costly for her mother to 30 to
the doctor, and tell him how her father
was than TO have him come to the house
every day.
When Mrs. May went out for the
second time that morning she left Baby
and Rover, her dog, on the front steps.
The child watched her mother out of
sight, and then turned TO the dog and
said "Want 10 see what Ned gave me?
Did you get onc?"
Rover shifted at it in way which
said plainly: "lt's not good to eat, it's
only paper" And then tried to make
it up by kissing her
'Gran'pa hasn't waluntine, Rover.
His flew away, and he's sick. That's
what makes him cross. | guess I'll
give him my waluntne, and then he
won't be cross any more. Come.
Roverr'
Rover barkcd "All right, little
mistress; I'll 20 wherever you do. /
hope it won't be into mischief"
And the little girl and the big dog
went down the street toward the large,
red brick house where her grandfather,
Squire Lance, lived. She knew the
house very wen though she had never
visited it. For years before she was
born the stubborn, old Squire had
turned his only child from his house
because she had dsobeyed him. He
had wished ever since that hcshad not
been so hasty, for he missed his daugh-
ter greatly. bat was too proud TO say
50 even TO his wife. So the years went
by, and the old man grew harder and
harder and there is no knowing how
things would have ended if it hadn't
been for-but there. shall be telling
the end of my story before ] get to the
middle, if don't go right back.
The very morning have been writ
ing about, the old folks were sitting
before the fire thinking of their daugh-
ter, when they were startled by the
faint tinkle Of the door bell.
IL think 1hear the bell said Squire
Lance to his wife, "hadn't you better
see? | don't think Mary could hear
it,
May be its the letter man. but. If it
is. he's late.n said the old lady
When she opened the door. instead
of the letter man she found her grand
daughter standing on tip-toe, trying to
4 reach the bell again. For minute
Mrs. Lance felt faint with fear; was
her daughter sick, and had she sent
this little one to tell hcrp She stopped
down TO take what she thought was
note from the child's hand. but Baby
put her hands behind her.
why, my pei, won't you give IT to
9aadiuaf did mamms ssnd TIP Is slrs
sfckP"